Help, second thoughts on getting the lap band -Tomorrow!!

Second thoughts the day before surgery is totally normal. I almost backed out but I am so thankful I didn't. Everyone has different experiences with all of the surgeries. No two stories are the same. As long as you have researched all of the different types of surgeries you can decided which is best for you. It's all about doing your homework and choosing the type of surgery that yu feel is best for you. If you have questions call your surgeon's nurse on call. I called mine a million times the weekend before surgery. Make a list of questions and ask away. You can also ask to see your surgeon before surgery tomorrow to discuss any last minute concerns.

I can say with my band I can eat almost anything. I still eat bread, pasta, rice, etc. I eat diet pizza on occasion with no problems. I just got my second fill ast week and I am very happy with my restriction.

Hi,

Thanks for responding!!!  I will take your suggestions and call the doctor's office.

How closely have you researched both of these procedures? I ask because I think most people can no longer really enjoy bread after the fact (it will have a lot to do with the level of restriction you choose). I can not for one enjoy breads or flour tortillas when I am at a level of restriction that I am losing at. Sure I could open it up more, but then I am not losing. I knew going into it though that they were very likely to be gone from my diet. To address some of your other concerns, I no longer find eating very enjoyable. But that was precisely what I needed, FOR ME. Meaning I fear some of the other procedures would not have been good FOR ME because I love food and if I am not forced to stop eating it, I will. Also the malabsobative procedures require an increase in vitamin consumption for life and I am terrible at taking vitamins, I didnt want to knowingly pick a procedure that was going to make me malnurished because of my lazyness to take vitamins multiple times a day. (I capatalized "for me" because your decision should be based on your own strengths and weaknesses)

As for throwing up, it really annoys me when people say we throw up with lap band. There is a HUGE difference between being stuck and actually throwing up so let me explain. Throwing up involves food going all the way to your stomach and having to come up. Including acids. Therefore you usually rather violently heave all of the contents of your stomach with acids and all up burning the full way as it come out your mouth and sometimes your nose. A stuck episode however only occurs when you eat foods too quickly, too large of a bite, or the wrong foods. These will happen mostly in the beginning as you learn and dimish the longer you are banded unless you take risks or have some kind of band problem. However a stuck episode involves a tight feeling in your chest that is very uncomfortable to painful. You can walk sometimes to move the bite through but sometimes it has to come out. At this time you have to sorta gag it out usually by just leaning over the toilet. It comes up with some mucous and is gross but is VERY different from throwing up. There is no burning and moments after it is up you feel fine. For the record I have not "thrown up" even once since being banded. The one time I got sick enough to throw up I heaved for hours and nothing came up. I dont even know if I can.

Best of luck, if you are having doubts maybe you can postpone a couple of weeks until you are sure.

I was interested in getting the band as well, so I have been researching asking people who I personally knw that have it (they are in the process of now trying to get a revision). I also went to a seminar on Friday and listened to all the pros and cons from a Surgeon. He was very informative and well experienced. I asked the question if it was a high percentage of patients coming back for revisons after having a lapband and the Surgeon stated it was  a VERY HIGH percentage. Now I am reconsidering the lapband procedure for a different WLS procedure because I will not be able to afford a revision.

Good luck with your final decision.

I am so glad that your Dr. was honest with you when you asked him about the % of ppl revising FROM the band. I do feel it is something that the Drs. should disclose to patients BEFORE surgery and WITHOUT being questioned about it. For many ppl, they only have ONE opportunity to have WLS. I just hate to see so many of those ppl waste it on the band when the band has such a LOW long term success rate! :-(

Best of luck with which ever WLS u choose!

I will no doubt get trashed on here for posting this response to you one day before your band surgery is schedueled, but I don't care. I just with someone had posted this same thing to ME 1 day before I had mine!!!

I would not recommend the band to my worse enemy. It has been a complete waste of time and money!!! Had I known then what I know now, I NEVER would have gotten the band!

I read on this band forum every day about ppl with slips/port problems/leaks/etc. New posts every day!

Also, one thing most Drs. will not tell you BEFORE you get the band is that some ppl NEVER reach restriction/"sweet spot"! Kind of an important detail don't you think?! I have had 16 fills and still have NOT reached it!

I urge you to go on the revision forum and read the posts of all those revising FROM the band. If the band was that great then all those ppl would NOT WANT TO PUT THEIRSELVES THROUGH THE PAIN AND EXPENSE OF YET ANOTHER wls NOW WOULD THEY???!

Also you may want to read this article about how the ASMBS says it's an ineffective WLS!

www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

Trust me I made myself sick before surgery...I could barely walk into the hospital...man, I felt silly later:) I like my band alot. I notice such a differance! Good look to you!

I knew I could rely on Maria to tell you that the band is useless. That has been her experience, though, not mine. I'm very happy with my band, but perhaps my surgery was easier to face because I never had any doubts about my choice. As others have pointed out, it's natural to feel anxiety before such an important and life-changing procedure.

I have to respond to your acquaintance's comments.

someone that absolutely said that it was the biggest mistake of her life - I believe Maria has already said enough on that topic. 

She lost 60lbs - and that's a bad thing?

and gained 50lbs because she can not afford the refills - why did she have band surgery if she can't afford the fills? 

She said food is not enjoyable - that might be so if she's continuing to eat the way she did before her surgery, but since I got the hang of band eating skills (take tiny bites, chew very well, eat slowly, etc.), I've been able to enjoy a wide variety of foods that I like.  

and you can't enjoy a slice of bread without throwing it up - I can eat a few bites of bread if I'm careful. If your acquaintance is gobbling down a sandwich, or a loaf of garlic bread, I would imagine that her band would protest that. As Bette pointed out, some of the foods that your acquaintance is mourning are exactly what got her obese enough for weight loss surgery. But if you absolutely cannot bear the thought of never eating bread again, you'd better choose another procedure, because it's possible that once or twice in the rest of your life, a piece of bread could cause you discomfort. And so could a scrambled egg, a steak, a French fry, a slice of cucumber...just about anything could be a problem if you're not eating carefully after band surgery. Oh, and while we're on the subject of "throwing up" (which is not the correct term for what's happening to your acquaintance) - I have to point out that gastric bypass patients are also likely to get stuck, regurgitate food, vomit, slime, and/or foam if they don't eat carefully.

Jean

The band may not be for you if:

1.  You can't afford or don't want to be inconvenienced by going for fills and lifelong follow up.

2. You want to be able to eat anything and aren't willing to face life knowing there are certain foods you may never be able to eat again.

3.  You aren't willing or able to make lifestyle changes required to work with your band.  Measuring food, cutting food into tiny bites, chewing food at least 20 times per bite, not drinking with meals or for at least one half hour after meals are all part of the banded lifestyle.

There are many things we won't be able to do as we move along in life...I for instance, will never be able to go skiing again...my knees have seen their last bump...missing out on that is a lot more impactful (no pun intended) than not being able to eat bread...and I love me some bread.  I miss eating it, but I don't miss the 65 lbs more!

If I were to lose my band, I would choose revision to a sleeve.  I am confident in my choice and will do everything I can to ensure my band lasts as long as possible and if it doesn't last as long as me, I will adjust accordingly...trust me, I have had many, many surgeries for many different issues...this one was middle of the road as far as degree of difficulty.

Good luck to you whatever you choose!

w/70 to lose - your not in a bad place......but i would opt for a sleeve if it was afforded to me.

after care is much greater for lapband patients & costly if your self pay.

yet on the night of your surgery - i wish you well & success - breathe !!!!!!